Austin Kasso poses for a portrait next to a vertical grow tower in the soon to open farmers market store with on-site produce cultivation, 525 Wabash ave, Friday, April 12, 2019, in Lafayette.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE, Ind.— Residents of the Wabash Avenue area soon won't need to venture far to find locally produced goods.

Bob Corbin, owner of Karma Industries Inc., will open Corbin's Corner Market at 525 Wabash Avenue by June 1, offering an indoor farmers market with an array of goods an produce.

What makes Corbin's store unique in comparison with any other market, however, is the produce sold will be grown in house, literally.

Austin Kasso, owner of Lafayette Produce, said his goal has always been to provide the freshest produce year round, but also providing it in a way that was also logistically efficient, leading him down the path of cultivation via aeroponic growing towers.

"I found that aeroponics is an easier way of doing that because you have better control of the plants," Kasso said. "If you can get consistent harvests, then you can keep consistent plant cycles."

Kasso met Corbin after a community meeting and said Corbin explained his hopes of opening a year round indoor farmers market, seeing the potential for a great partnership.

Currently Kasso is growing seven different crops with his 25 towers, cultivating chives, basil, cilantro, arugula, kale, spinach and swiss chard, all to be sold at Corbin’s Corner Market. By next year, Kasso said he plans to have significantly increased the number of aeroponic towers used in the operation.

“It’s going to be a new way for many to shop for veggies,” Kasso said. “Instead of going to the shelf and getting produce themselves, you’ll go to the deli counter and I will be waiting and serving the produce individually.”

Kasso said the experience ties in with the shift in grocery shopping experience, of knowing where the food is coming from and who is growing it.

For Corbin though, his familial ties to Wabash Avenue lead him to the interest in starting a market of this nature to the growing options area residents have, he said, feeding further the positive feelings that have continued to come to the area.

“We are going to bring in a lot of vendors who make their own things, with Spoonalicious being one of our first vendors as well as a local honey producer, soap maker and candle maker,” Corbin said. “And then a buddy and I raise fish, so we will be selling fish out of here as well.”

Corbin said for years he has heard that growing agriculture like this isn't profitable, but he believes Kasso can prove those people wrong.

Kasso said being able to offer sustainable local food is one of the ways to uplift those living in poverty.

"This stems from a core belief shared by Bob and I that this is a grassroots solution to many of society's problems," Kasso said. "We are not only addressing food insecurity, and the availability or accessibility of truly fresh local produce, but a variety of other systemic problems. We are working to increase the standards for the local quality of life, we are addressing long term health issues by inspiring a healthier lifestyle, and providing new and exciting career opportunities in agriculture."

As time goes on, Kasso said he plans to increase the variety of his crops, aiming to produce more vegetables outside of simply micro greens, with a target of over 150 crops.

Beyond the store front, Corbin said he plans to continue expansion into the additional 15,000 square feet in a separate portion of the building, making room for more aeroponic towers.

Contact reporter Jillian Ellison at 765-420-5228 or at jeellison@gannett.com.